Apparatus for and method of cabling threads



I l l I l H II Oct. 6, 1953 H. c. UHLIG APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CABLING THREADS Original Filed Nov. 10, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 1 (mm-neg Oct. 6, 1953 H. c. UHLIG APPARATUS, FOR AND METHOD OF CABLING THREADS Original Filed Nov. 10, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3m entor HehUCJ/h/ig Wau h (Ittomeg Oct. 6, 1953 H. c. UHLIG APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CABLING THREADS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 10, 1948 Zhmentor Henry C, Uh/ig WM AA/w dttorneg fiatenteol Oct. 6, i951? APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CABLING THREADS Henry C. Uhlig, Clifton, N. J assignor, by mesne assignments, to Howe Twister Corporation, Jersey City, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Original application November 10, 1948, Serial No. 59,392. Divided and this application November 15, 1949, Serial No. 127,380

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for cabling elongated, flexible materials, such as threads, to form cords, to apparatus including such cabling device as an element thereof for forming cords from yarns in one continuous operation, and to a method of forming cords by continuously twisting yarns and then cabling together the threads thus formed to form cords.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 59,392, filed November 10, 1948, by Bogdanify, Mitchell and Uhlig, and bearing the same title as the instant application.

The invention has among its objects the provision of an improved cabling spindle of the type creating and maintaining a balloon in the material leading thereto, the spindle being of such construction that the material entering and passing through it is under complete control both in the balloon leading to the cabling spindle and in the portion of its travel in which it is wound.

The invention has as a further object the provision of a novel combination of a cabling device, of the type above indicated, with yarn twisting spindles of the type creating and maintaining balloons in which the rate of withdrawal of yarn from the latter spindles is governed by the cabling spindle, the exactness of control of the material in the cabling spindle creating a desired balance of tensional forces in the material throughout the system.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a method of forming cord from yarns in one continuous operation with the material traveling continuously, wherein the forces acting on the material throughout the various operations are governed primarily during the cabling operation, whereby predetermined desired tension conditions throughout all the operations, including the yarn twisting, the cabling of the resulting threads, and the reeling of the resulting cord, are attained.

These and further objects of the invention will be more readily apparent in the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of the apparatus and the method of the invention.

In the drawings appended hereto and forming a part of the specification:

Figure l is a fragmentary, somewhat schematic, view of the general combination of apparatus of the first described embodiment of the invention, such embodiment employing a retarded thread gathering capstan, the view being taken in elevation from a plane parallel to the axes of the yarn twisting and thread cabling sp ndles;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of the thread gathering capstan and its retarding mechanism employed in such first embodiment;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention employing a driven thread gathering and forwarding capstan;

Figure 4 is a view in axial section through the cabling spindle of the invention, such spindle being employed in both embodiments of the general combination of apparatus in accordance with the invention, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in plan of the cabling spindle shown in Figure 4.

The combination of yarn twisting spindles of the type creating and maintaining balloons in the delivered thread with a cabling spindle of the type creating and maintaining a balloon in the gathered cords delivered thereto is disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,487,837, issued November 15, 1949, and entitled Method of and Apparatus for Twisting Yarn. The apparatus and method of the present invention represent improvements in the general combination, the cabling spindle, and the method of forming cords of my said patent, in that the present invention permits closer control of the cord at the cabling spindle and separates the control of the cabling spindle balloon from the control of the reeling tension. The present invention not only improves the operation of the cabling spindle itself, but also improves the operation of the combination of elements of the apparatus as a whole, since control of the yarns delivered from the yarn twisting spindles is exercised by the cabling spindle, wholly in the first described embodiment and partially in the second.

The general combination of apparatus disclosed, that is, the yarn twisting spindles in combination with the cabling spindle to which they deliver the threads which they produce, is capable of use to advantage, as will be, explained, in the formation of cords formed from a plurality of yarns in one continuous operation in which the yarns, threads, and resulting cord travel continuously. Such cords are useful, for example, as the reinforcing elements in v belts and in automobile tires, rayon being a typical material for forming the cords for such latter use. It is to be understood that the apparatus and method of the invention may be employed in making cords from yarns composed of various fibers including the synthetic continuous filaments such as those of rayon or nylon, and also yarns made of natural with the twisting of yarn made of -cotton fib'ers-,

to form cords.

It is also to be understood -that the invention). includes the novel cabling spindl pense aswell as the combination of it Withthyarntwisting spindles and other attendantmechanismsm The-v cabling spindle of the invention-obviouslysmay-be used to advantage in cabling and reeling threads; from other sources than those of the yarn twisting spindles of the general combination.

In the drawings, as above explained, Figures 1 and -2 show-the:generalacombination of .thez-apparatus r in :the embodiment:thereoicadaptedifor': the formation-of: cords;fromzyarnsliofmsynthetic1e fibers such as rayon. In Figure 3 there is shown 0 a second embodiment oiztheilgener-allcombination 5 whichis particularly ,-useful;.inuthe treatmentiofss. yarns formed. of; cottonand the liliew Thecabling spindle, shown generallyzjnfiigures-i andi3 and more specifically-.iiriFigures; 4 andr5,;-is;substan-= tially the. same. as;.thatxshowir and rdescribed in' both embodiments ofhthexagenerala combinationr:

Considcringafirst 1 the: general icornbinationxof the first embodiment, there is shown ineFi'gurerl a first yarn ztwistingispindlelz andva second -yarn twisting spindle 4, therebeinga cabling spindles positioned equidistant: therebetweemsthe axes: of: all such spindles: lying-innthe same plane. The 1 spindles are supported'irr a frame ofwhi'ch 50111571; fragments, are. shown; the direct sup-port: tor the l spindles. being. .the horizontalzrodiztl which' 'extends.longitudinallynofi the frame; Secured-t0 rod 8 isthe. supporting .memheni 9 for spin'dle 2, the supporting member 121 for. spindle 4, 'and the supporting member-314i for; spindle; Ba Also suspended .0n.rod;;8 is: the supporting member- 18 from which therelectricimotori 61' is hungiu Motor i 6 has .on .its. drivin cshafti the pulley 2a which I is connected; to the driving pulleitfliotnspindlel the drivinglpulley .2 dotspindle 4,:and=iihe'-driving a pulleyi-2 6; ctr-spindles 'Joy meansiof me-mama: such belt .beinglsupportedrat its endremote frorn-- the motorhby. meanaof the idler pul-ley 23 depending fromsuppoutinglnembenwi Bonsa -has the ,two runs. 131191 601311 1311811313130Sii3 SidS ofpulleys 221; and; 24,- andiha's both runs on the rearside of pulley. .26; as 1 shown in Figure-disc ithat spindles .-.2 andA are drivenazina the same directionand spindle 6 in the opposite directionwall in timed relation-to each others Spindles. 2 and ii are generallylshown as -being of the type-shown .in Figure=-l oftheapplication of Agresti etal serial 'Nci' 52,994; filed October ti 1948,.-.now Patent -No.:2,492; Z78;'2entitled- Yarn TwistingsApparatus and 1 Method," It'- is '-to '--'be understood, however; thataothertwisting spindlsi although preferablyl'of theta :aforul ty-pey which r165. create and. -.main.tain balloons' :in the delivered 5 material, maybe :substitutedin the" general com bination of .the apparatus for -thoseshdwn at 2 and 4.-- 7

Spindle] includesuthe' cake orpackaigett of rayon yarn supported con- :package. support 36, member 36' being ,floatingly mounted on the driven shaft of the-spindle soiastmbemaintained v substantially, one :angular.spositionxii, Yarn .44; l 7

which is of the flat yarn type, that is, it has a rectangular cross section with the width materially exceeding the thickness, is fed from the package 34 through the yarn tensioning and twist barriers device, *generallygdesighated 3&3 whence it issues into the driven twisting guide flfi on the driven shaft 4| of the spindle. The first twisted yarn then passes downwardly through an axial passage, (notshown) in shaft 4|, and thence out- :wardlylthrough a radial passage, not shown, in

disc :32, the disc being keyed for rotation with shaft '4 ItnYarn issuing from the passage in disc M -passes-upwardly -to the guiding eye 48 positionedaxialiyof and above the spindle, as shown.

Thayarn so..-treated\by'.spindle 2 is given a first twistzirr.thatzportion of its travel below device 38 and-iaboye thewtwisting guide 46 and a second twist in that portion of its travel from the outer endofthe passage in disc 42 to the uiding eye 48. By reason of the high speed of rotation of the disc 42 the thread issuingi 1theref=rom;=- designatedsfi 8} is t'lnown into a :balloonalw about thespindleis,

Spindle 4 has parts .sirniiar to those ofi:spindle1 2 and 1thexyarn ::treated-thereby:,1is subjected-do a the: same steps. The -balloon- :in therthreada 58m issuingxirom:theispindle land theszone' betweena: twisting disc 52- cf spindle 4 and-eye 5B. axially; thereabove is designatednfidn When:;:pulleys"'22,:: and 2 arerof-the same diameter, :wherrithelyarns at the twospindlesi and-.4 are;substantiallyzidem:

tical;..and when the tensions.simpcsectruponxtheve; yarns at each of-Jthe. spindleseare likewiser suhe stantially-identical, threads; {iilsaandwiii Smwill be subjected to .substan-tialiy-J the same tension rasm they. travel upwardly-1 beyond :.their--. respectiveguiding eyes;-

Threads ".5iLand :58 1 are gathered; in flihBifiISlli described embodiment of :the apparatus; zbyxthesr gathering capstan -6 8; .Which: is 4 positioned: above: and substantially equidistant fromthe upperendse: of the balloons created-and maintained-breach cf the yarn twisting spindlesa Bceausewas: it wills, laterzzappear, when. the -rapparatusxis :treatin'g 1 materials suchas rayon theitension in the-'aballoorn; of the cord entering the-cabling spindle exceedsf 1: the sum Poi: the .tensions 1 in rthe threads issuing: I from: a the -.-yarn twisting: spindles, .thexthreads; gathering capstan.- 6G:- is "retarded: .Inlnthis. E111?- bodiment; capstan; E9; '1' more. .clearly. I Shawna-lin Figure 2, is mounted on the horizontalitop tramiezs member 62.; through the :medium: rof ibh'ex pillow" block 64. lhe capstanihasz nonerctatably atectached thereto a brakedrumiiifi withsvhich :the brake. lever 68w cooperatesai- Leverrlifi: is ;pivo.tall-y.?r connected to frame member: 2.by thezpiyot=pin 19, the brakeidrum engagingrpcrticnmt' thezleverz; beingma'intained irr'contact :with". the ;bra'ke:drum: by meansotan adjustable. brake;lever-voperating: mechanismr. Such: mechani'sm:includesv the lsup port :14 which may convenientlyhera art1 ofctli'ex-z: machine frame, a rod '15 having a threaded upper-1:, end which'extendsihroughia hole-in'znemberil' LJ a wing nut .l fiiscrewed nponthezuppenen'd; ofirod 1 l5, anda .coil springni'z; connected-to thezouters: end of the brakeii'leveinfit and.uthe bottom 'of rod 18, as. shown: The force-withiwhich the" br ake' lever engages the brake -=drum'-"--and th-us the: amount of retardation (if-capstan 6 1 may readily be varied-by adjusting the" position of rod '7 6' and thus the tensionon' spring-n bymeans-of nutifla' The br akingmechanism-is'adjusted s0'--that, under constant speedcondit'ions, the-tension in the'=bal= loonl'in the -"cord entering the cabling"spindle equals-the suin -:01 the tensions in the-threads issuing from the spindles 2 and 4 and gathered an the capstan plus the retardation upon suchthreads imposed by capstan 60.

Threads 50 and 5a, which are gathered at the I the bottom of spindle 6. The gathered threads are given a first twist in the balloon 84 between eye 82 and disc 92, the thus first twisted cord being designated I28.

The structure of the cabling spindle 6 employed in both embodiments of the general combination of the apparatus will be more clearly understood by a consideration of Figure 4. The spindle 6 includes the driven shaft 86 which is positioned, as are the driven shafts of spindles 2 and 4, at a small angle to the vertical as, for instance, 12, as indicated in Figure 3. Such angularity of posi-' tion of the spindle shafts has the function of maintaining the bobbin supports of the yarn twisting spindles and the cord laying mechanism supporting cage of the cabling spindle in substantially one angular position. Shaft 86 is supported at its lower end in bearings in the sleeve member 1 88, such sleeve member being supported in the member I4 previously described. Supported on member I4, as shown, is a spindle encircling closure member 90, which confines the balloon 84 and prevents it from becoming entangled with balloons 46 and 54 before the device has reached steady operating condition.

The improved cabling spindle of the invention is illustrated in that embodiment thereof providing means whereby the threads entering it and passing therethrough are given a 2 for l twist on each other before they are reeled upon the bobbin carried thereby. The improvement in the cabling spindle of the invention resides in the provision of means engaging the cord, in that portion of its travel in the spindle from the entering end of the radial passage in the twisting disc to the cord laying device, for positively forwarding the cord, such means being positively driven in synchronism with the driven shaft of the spindle. As a result of such construction, the power necessary for pulling the cord inwardly from the bottom of its balloon is supplied by the means at the spindle positively engaging and forwarding the cord, the slip driving connection such as a variable magnetic clutch, which is preferably employed between the driven shaft of the spindle and the bobbin support, being relied upon only to impel the cord from such last named means to the cord laying device and to wind it upon the bobbin. As a result of such construction the slip driving connection no longer performs both the functions of pulling the cord from the balloon and of reeling it and thus more accurate control is possible of both the cord balloon and of the reeling opera tion.

The structure of the preferred illustrative embodiment of the cabling spindle shown in Figure 4 at the bottom portion thereof immediately above sleeve 88, and also the traversing cord laying device of the spindle are substantially similar to those described in the application of Agresti, Serial No. 15,394, filed March 17, 1948, now PatentNo. 2,534,495, and entitled Constant Tension Elongated Material Handling Mechanism. It is to be understood, however, that the improvement in the cabling spindle of the invention may be used to advantage in spindles having other types of bobbin driving mechanisms and cord laying devices. Such spindle includes the twisting disc 92 keyed on shaft 86 immediately above sleeve 88, a cage supporting flange 94 floatingly mounted on shaft 86, and an upwardly dished guard 96 non-rotatably affixed to the bottom of flange 94. A weight 98 eccentrically secured to the bottom of flange 94 maintains such flange and the cage structure carried thereby in substantially one angular position. The cage is formed by a plurality of spaced upstanding rods I00, positioned around the edge of flange 94 and parallel to shaft 86. A ring I02 is secured to the tops of rods I00. Such cage structure forms the support for the traversing cord laying mechanism and for the auxiliary cord driving capstan presently to be described.

Connection between shaft 86 and the bobbin support is effected by means of the magnetic slip clutch generally designated I03. Such clutch includes a rotor member I04 keyed to shaft 86, such rotor member being made of magnetic material such as soft iron, and having a depending skirt I06, the outer face of the skirt lying on the frustum of a cone. The bobbin support consists of a flange I08 and an upstanding central tubular portion I I0 both made of non-magnetic material, such bobbin support being floatingly mounted on the upper end of shaft 86. The bobbin core H2, in this instance, is cylindrical, such core having a transverse bottom flange I I 4, the bobbin core also being made of non-magnetic material. The bobbin core is slidingly received over portion IIO of the bobbin support, the weight of the bobbin core and of the cord I26 wound thereon being sustained by the three non-magnetic pins I24 slidingly mounted in flange I08. The bobbin core is keyed for rotation with the bobbin support by the driving connection generally designated I25.

The bottom ends of pins I24 rest upon the upper surface of the outer rotor member I I 6 of the magnetic clutch. Member I I6, which is a strong permanent magnet, is provided with a plurality of radially directed poles II8, the inner faces of which lie on the frustum of a cone the elements of which are parallel to those of the skirt I06. The outer magnetic clutch member H6 is supported from the outer edge of flange I00 through the medium of the upper and lower non-magnetic annular springs I20 and I22, respectively. As increasing pressure is imposed upon pins I24 as a consequence to the building up of cord upon the bobbin core, magnetic clutch part I I6 is depressed and thus the air gap between parts I06 and H6 is decreased. The angles of the cones on which the confronting faces of parts I06 and H6 of the clutch lie, and the characteristics of spring members I20 and I22 are so chosen that the torque transmitted through the magnetic clutch varies substantially directly with the increase in weight of the bobbin core and the material wound thereon, whereby yarn is wound upon the bobbin under a substantially constant tension, when the bobbin core is cylindrical, regardless of the instantaneous diameter of the reel on which it is wound.

The cord I28 is withdrawn from the balloon 84 of the cabling spindle through passage I30 in twisting disc 92 from which it travels upwardly in the axial passage I32 in the upper end of shaft 86. The cord in such latter portion of its travel is designated I34. In the described embodiment, the means at the spindle positively engaging and The drive includes the universal joint ZIB, the cross shaft 220, the V belt 228 running over pulleys 224 and 230, and the upper cross shaft 232 journaled in pillow blocks 2 34 and 236. In order to vary the peripheral speed of capstan 240 a change speed driving mechanism is employed between shafts 226 and 232. In the embodiment shown, such speed change mechanism is provided by means of the split pulley 224, one part of which is shiftable relative to the other, to vary the effective diameter of the pulley, by means of conventional mechanism, including the shifting flange shown at 226, the groove of which is engaged by an adjustably positioned yoke, not shown. In order to maintain belt 228 in the desired taut condition there is provided an adjustable belt tightening idler pulley 242 which engages one reach of the belt, pulley 242 being adjustable transversely of the run of the belt by reason of its mounting on the slide 2%, which is adjustable horizontally by the worm 245.

The change speed driving connection between shafts 220 and 232 is adjusted, in the described manner, so that under steady running conditions the balloons in the threads delivered from the individual twisting spindles and the balloon 84' leading to the cabling spindle have the desired spans. Under such conditions the tension in balloon 84 plus the tension imposed upon threads 56' and 58' by driven capstan 240 equals the sum of the tensions in the balloons of the individual yarn twisting spindles. The auxiliary cord engaging capstan I96, in this embodiment as in the first, permits separation of the controls of the balloon 84' and of the reeling operation.

When the apparatus of the second embodiment is employed in treating material such as cotton the auxiliary capstan I96 may be modified as to its capstan step dimensions so that such capstan performs the further step of substantially normalizing the cabled thread and therefore reducing subsequent length variations therein. A typical auxiliary capstan for such purpose has both the upper and lower steps tapered, as in the first described embodiment, with an included angle of 4, for example, but the upper step exceeds the lower step in diameter by three or four percent. In this embodiment, therefore, in the passage of the cord from the lower to the upper step, the cord is subjected to substantial tension in the reaches thereof from the bottoin step l98 of the capstan to the sheave 254, and from such sheave to the upper step 20:; of the capstan.

Whereas I have described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the apparatus for and method of cabling threads in accordance with my invention, it is to be understood that such embodiments are illustrative only. The invention is capable of considerable variations as to details, and accordingly it is defined by the scope of the following claims.

I claim as new the following:

' 1. Apparatus for twisting and reeling elongated fiexible material such as cord, which comprises a rotary driven spindle shaft, a bobbin sup port mounted on the spindle shaft, a driving connection between the spindle shaft and the bobbin support, a cord guide supporting structure spaced radially of the bobbin support, a twisting disc mounted on the spindle shaft for rotation therewith, the spindle shaft having an axial passage therein, the twisting disc having a substantially radial passage therethrough and connecting with the passage in the spindle shaft, the cord guide supporting structure having a cord guiding and loading device thereon, driven means on the apparatus for engaging the cord in its passage through the apparatus, at a location between the outer end of the radial passage in the twisting disc and the cord guiding and loading device, said last named means substantially positively forwarding the cord, and means for driving said last named means in synchronism with the spindle shaft.

2. Apparatus for twisting and reeling elongated flexible material such as cord, which comprises a rotary driven spindle shaft having an outer end, a bobbin support mounted on the outer end of the spindle shaft, a slip driving connection between the spindle shaft and the bobbin support, a cord guide supporting structure spaced radially of the bobbin support, a twisting disc mounted on the spindle shaft, for rotation therewith, the spindle shaft having an axial passage therein in its outer end, the twisting disc having a substantially radial passage therethrough and connecting with the passage in the spindle shaft, the cord guide supporting structure having a cord guiding and loading device thereon, driven means on the apparatus for engaging the cord, in its passage through the apparatus, at a location between the outer end of the radial passage in the twisting disc and the cord guiding and loading device, said last named means substantially positively forwarding the cord, and means for driving said last named means in synchronism with the spindle' shaft, whereby cord fed from a point spaced from the outer end of the spindle shaft and coaxial therewith, through the passageways in the twisting disc and the spindle shaft, to the guiding and loading device on thecord guide supporting structure, and thence to the bobbin, is given a double twist when the spindle shaft is rotated and the cord is wound on the bobbin.

3. Apparatus'for twisting and reeling elongated flexible material such ascord, which comprises a rotary driven spindle shaft having an outer end, a bobbin support mounted on the outer end of such spindle shaft, aslip driving connection between the spindle shaft and the bobbin support, a cord guide supporting structure spaced radially of the bobbin support, and floatingly mounted on the spindle shaft so as to be maintained in a relatively stationary position, means for maintaining the cord guide supporting structure in such position, a twisting disc mounted on the spindle shaft inwardly of the outer end of the spindle shaft for rotation therewith, the spindle shaft having an axial passage in its outer end, the twisting disc having a substantially radial passage therethrough and connecting with the passage in the spindle shaft, the cord guide supporting structure having a cord guiding and loading device thereon, a capstan mounted on the apparatus for engaging and for substantially positively forwarding the cord in its passage through the apparatus, at a location between the outer end of the radial passage in the twisting disc and the cord guiding and loading device, and means for driving the capstan from the spindle shaft in synchronism therewith, whereby cord fed from a point spaced from the outer end of the spindle shaft and coaxial therewith through the passageways in the twisting disc, the spindle shaft, around the capstan, to the guiding and loading device, in that order, and thence to the bobbin, is given a double twist when the spindle shaft is rotated and the cord is wound on the bobbin,

4. Apparatus for twisting and reeling elongated flexible material such as cord, which comprises a rotary driven spindle shaft having an outer end,

a bobbin support: mounted; .onrthe: outer end; of such spindle shaft; a slip". driving connection -be+ tweemthe' spindle shaftiandthe bobbin support, a cord guide supporting structin-e spaced radially of the'bobbin supportsandzfloatingly mounted; on the; spindle shaft so aszto :berv maintained-in a relatively stationary position, means f or: main? taining the cord guide supporting .structurein such positions twisting. disc -mountedv on the spindle shaftdnwardlyof: the" outerend ofzthe spindle shaft for rotation-therewith; the: spindle shaft havinganaxial passage :in its uterhend, the. twisting .disc having. a substantially radial passage therethrough' and connecting. with, the passage; inthe' spindle-shaft, the-cordguideisupporting structure having-a cord guiding and;load:- ing;.device thereonaa icapstan :mounted on the apparatus beyond the 1 outer: end of the: spindle shaft for .engagingzandior-substantially positively forwarding; the ,cord .in 'IitS'f passage fromzthe spindle. shaft, andmeans :forydr-iving thecapstan from the spindle shaft in synchronism therewith, whereby. cord fed from; a pointspacedfromthe outerend of the spindle shaft and; coaxial there,- with through the passageways in :the: twistin disc, the spindle shaft,- around the capstan, tothe guide and loading device, and thence torthe-bobbin, in that order, is given a double twistwhen the spindle shaft is rotatedandthecord is .woundon the bobbin.

5. Apparatus for twisting and reeling elongated flexible material such as: cord; which comprises a rotary driven-spindle shaft-having-a free end, a bobbin support mounted :on the freeendof such spindle shaft, a slip drivingconnection between the lspindleashaft and'the bobbin support-a cord guide supporting .structurezspaced: radially 1 of :the bobbin support and floatingly mounteduonv the spindle shaft sow as .tocbe: maintained irrra relatively stationary-position; means formaintaining. i

the cord guide supporting structure. in. such: posi-. tion, a twisting disczmounted on the spindle shaft inwardly ofthe free end of.therspindleshaftior. rotation therewith, thelspindle shaft having an: axial passage in its freeaend, thettwistingsdisc. having a substantially radial, passage. there-. through and. connecting with theipassagezin. the spindle shaft, thecord guidersupportingstruces ture having a cordguidingpnd loading :de.vice: thereon, a capstanmounted on :the-cord guide. supporting: structure beyond the free end. of'the': spindle shaft for. engaging andfor substantially. positively forwarding the cord: in itspassagefrom. the .spindle shaft, and, meansmfor driving the capstan from: the spindle shaftinzsynchronism: therewith, whereby cord fed-froma point: spaced: from the-free end of the spindleshaftand coaxial. therewith through: the passagewaysin the twist-. ing disc, the spindleshaf-t, around-the capstan, to the guiding and loading --device,-:and thence to the bobbin, in that order, is given a double twist when the spindle shaft is rotated and the; cord; is wound on thezbobbinLz.

6. Apparatus for-twisting'and" reeling elongated flexible material such as .cord, which comprises a rotary driven spindle shafthav-ing a freeend,

a bobbin support mounted on the free 'end of such spindle shaft, a slip drivingconnectionbetween the spindle shaft and thebobbin support,

such slip driving connection comprising a magnet attached to one ofthegroup of elements consist ing of the spindle shaft .and bobbin support and a :rotor: attached. to? the: other element ofsuch group; the: magnet and rotor being located" rent. in: the rotor-uponrelative motion. between thespindle shaft and the bobbin support, a cord guide-supporting structure spaced radially. of the bobbin supporty'a twisting disc mountedv on :the spindle shaft" for rotation therewith; the spindle shaft having an axial passage in its free-end; the twisting disc having a substantially radial passage; therethrough and connecting with: the passage-in the spindle shaft, the cord guide supporting structure having a cord.guiding.andload-. ing device -thereon,driverrmeans. on the apparatus forengagingthe .cord, in. its: passage through the apparatus, at a location between theiouter end of; the radialpassage in the twisting. discandthe cord guiding and loadingdevice, said last named means substantially. positively forwarding the cord; and means .for driving said last. named means in synchronism with the. spindle. shaft; whereby cord'fed' from a point'spaced from the free end of the spindle shaft and coaxial therewith through the passageways in the twisting disc and the spindle shaft, to the guiding andloading device" on *thecordr guide supporting structure, andthence'to the bobbin, is given: a double :twist when the-spindle shaft is rotated and-the cord shaft; the. twisting. device-including: a :twisting: discrmounted inwardly of the free end ofrthe' spindle shaft: andof 'thezcage structure :for rota-- tion .with:.-the:spindle shaftythev spindle shaft having an axialpassage:initszfreeend, the twist ing disc: having a substantially radial passagetherethrough connectedwiththe passagein the: spindle shaft-,the'cagehaving a cord guidingand:

loading devicerthereonythe cake having'a supchronism with the spindle shaft; thecapstan havingza cordengaging-step. thereon, meansfor guid-i ing the'cordissuing from the spindle shaft to and'around the capstan step, and means for guid-. ingthe. cord from the capstan step to the cord guiding and loading device, whereby cord fed from; a point spaced from the free end of the spindle shaft and coaxial therewith through the passageways in the-twisting disc: and: the spindle shaft, around. thezcapstan step'as recited; to the guiding and loading device, and thence to the. bobbin-in that order; is given a .double twist when .the spindle shaft is rotated and the cord is wound on the bobbin.

8. Apparatus fortwisting and reeling e1ongated flexible material such as cord, which comprises a rotary driven spindle shaft, having an nectionbetweenthe spindleshaft andthe bobbin support, a thread guidesupportingcage surround-' spaced relationship: so .asito induce electricicuwins-t e b in' upp t fi t ns y m unted on:

13 the spindle shaft so as to be maintained in a relatively stationary position, means for maintaining the cage structure in such position, a twisting device mounted on the spindle shaft, the twisting device including a twisting disc mounted inwardly of the free end of the spindle shaft and of the cage structure for rotation with the spindle shaft, the spindle shaft having an axial passage in its free end, the twisting disc having a substantially radial passage therethrough connected with the passage in the spindle shaft, the cage having a cord guiding and loading device thereon, the cage having a supporting structure located thereon, the supporting structure spanning the spindle shaft beyond the free end of the spindle shaft, a capstan rotatably carried by said supporting structure, driving means between the spindle shaft and the capstan, whereby the capstan is driven in synchronism with the spindle shaft, the capstan having at least two axially spaced cord engaging steps thereon, one such step somewhat exceeding the other step in diameter, means for guiding the cord issuing from the spindle shaft to and around the smaller capstan step, means including a guide sheave spaced from the capstan for transferring the cord from the smaller step of the capstan to the larger step thereof, and means for guiding the cord from the larger capstan step to the cord guiding and loading device, whereby cord fed from a point spaced from the free end of the spindle shaft and coaxial therewith through the passageways in the twisting disc and the spindle shaft, around the capstan steps as recited, to the guiding and loading device, and thence to the bobbin, in that order, is given a double twist when the spindle shaft is rotated and the cord is wound on the bobbin.

9. An apparatus for forming stranded cord from a plurality of threads comprising a plurality of sources of threads, means for gathering the threads fed from their sources, the last named means including a sheave, thread from each source being led under substantially equal tension to and around the sheave, a cabling device of the type creating, and receiving material from, a balloon for twisting together the threads to form a cord, said cabling device comprising a rotary driven spindle shaft having a free end spaced from the sheave, the sheave lying at least generally on the projected axis of the spindle shaft,

a bobbin support mounted on the free end of such spindle shaft, a slip driving connection between the spindle shaft and the bobbin support, a cord guide supporting structure spaced radially of the bobbin support, a twisting disc mounted on the spindle shaft for rotation therewith, the spindle shaft having an axial passage in its free end, the twisting disc having a substantially radial passage therethrough and connecting with the passage in the spindle shaft, the cord guide Supporting structure having a cord guiding and loading device thereon, driven means on the apparatus for engaging the cord, in its passage through the cabling device, at a location between the outer end of the radial passage in the twisting disc and the cord guiding and loading device, said last named means substantially positively forwarding the cord, and means for driving said last named means in synchronism with the spindle shaft, whereby cord fed from the sheave, through the balloon of the cabling device and thence through the passageways in the twisting disc and the spindle shaft, to the guiding and loading device on the cord guide supporting structure, and thence to the bobbin, is given a double twist when the spindle shaft is rotated and the cord is wound on the bobbin.

10. An apparatus for forming stranded cord from a plurality of yarns in one continuous operation, comprising a plurality of similar twisting spindles each incorporating its source of yarn supply, the spindles being of the type which delivers the twisted thread therefrom in a balloon, means incorporated in each twisting spindle for imposing a predetermined back tension on the yarn, the axis of each such balloon generally coinciding with the axis of its spindle, the axes of the twisting spindles being generally parallel, means for gathering the threads from the twisting spindles, the last named means including a sheave, thread from each twisting spindle being led under tension from its balloon substantially directly-to and around the sheave, such sheave being located beyond the outer end of each of the balloons from the twisting spindles and being spaced at substantially equal distances from the axes of the spindles, a cabling device of the type creating, and receiving material from, a balloon for twisting together the thus forwarded threads to form a cord, said cabling device comprising a rotary driven spindle shaft having a free end spaced from the sheave, the sheave lying at least generally on the projected axis of the spindle shaft, a bobbin support mounted on the free end of such spindle shaft, a slip driving connection between the spindle shaft and the bobbin support, a cord guide supporting structure spaced radially of the bobbin support, a twisting disc mounted on the spindle shaft for rotation therewith, the spindle shaft having an axial passage in its free end, the twisting disc having a substantially radial passage therethrough and connecting with the passage in the spindle shaft, the cord guide supporting structure having a cord guiding and loading device thereon, driven means on the apparatus for engaging the cord, in its passage through the cabling device, at a location between the outer end of the radial passage in the twisting disc and the cord guiding and loading device,

said last named means forwarding the cord, and means for driving said last named means in synchronism with the spindle shaft, whereby cord fed from the sheave, through the balloon of the cabling device and thence through the passageways in the twisting disc and the spindle shaft, to the guiding and loading device on the cord guide supporting structure, and thence to the bobbin, is given a double twist when the spindle shaft is rotated and the cord is wound on the bobbin.

11. The method of forming stranded cord from a plurality of yarns in one continuous operation comprising the following steps in the order named: feeding each of a plurality of yarns in the direction of its length from its separate source of supply, imposing a predetermined back tension on each such yarn, forming a balloon in each such yarn and separately twisting the yarns to form threads, gathering such threads into generally parallel relationship at a point beyond the balloon in each, forwarding such threads in such generally parallel relationship, twisting the thus fed gathered threads together to form a cord, during the last named twisting step forming a balloon in the cord, positively withdrawing the twisted cord from the last named balloon at a rate synchronized with the rate of twisting of the threads together, and yieldingly coiling such cord, the first twisting, the gathering, and

substantially positively '15 a the i-secondtwisting; steps --being;performediwith the material continuously in motion.

12. Apparatus for twisting-and-reelingan elon gated fiexiblematerialsuch as a textile cord, which comprisesa rotary driven spindle shaft, a cord guide, a bobbin support-and a supportfor said scordguide mounted on said spindle shaft for-rotation about the spindle shaft axis-indelpendently-of-said spindleshaft-and of each other, said spindle shaft and one of said supports-havingg-a driving action between them, means for holdingtheoother-of saidsupports from rotation about thexspindle shaft axis, a twisting disc mounted on thespindleshaft for rotation therewith, the spindle shaft. having, an axial passage therein-the twistingdiscrhaving a substantially radial passage therethrough and connecting, with the passage in the spindle shaft, anda cord feeding. element-engaging with the cord leaving one.0f said passagesfor feeding the cord along and through said passages.

13.--Apparatus.fortwisting and reeling. elon gatedlflexible material,- suchoas a textile cord, which comprises a spindleshaft, means mounte ingsaidspindle shaft f or rotation about its axis, with one endof the spindle shaft unsupported and projecting beyond said means, .a cord guide, a bobbin support and a support for said cord guidevmounted on .said projectingend of the spindle shaftfor relative rotation thereon independentlyof. said spindlelshaftwand of each other, said spindle shaftand one of said supports'having a slip driving action between them, means a 16 forqholdingrthel othersof. said supports from are.- tation about the spindle; shaft. axis,. a twisting element. mounted on said projecting. end of said spindle-shaft between saidbobbin support: and said spindleshaftlmounting means, for rotation with the spindle. shaft, the spindle shaft having anaxialpassage therein from its unsupported end past said bobbin support, and said twisting elementv having, a substantially; radial passage connectingwiththe innerend of said spindle shaft passage and open at its outer end, a cord feeding device carried bysaid guide support disposed adjacent theprojeetingend of said spindle shaft, and engaging-any cord leaving the projecting,endofthespindle shaft to pull thezcord throughsaid passages in succession, .said'cord feeding device having a drive connection from said spind1e-Shaft,-and operable upon vrelative rotatiorrbetween the spindle shaft :and said guide support.

HENRY .C. UHLIG. ,7

References .Cited in. thefile of this patent,

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 671,101- Bek Apr. 2, 1901 691,797 Norman Jan. 28, 1902 723378 1 Norman Mar. 17,1903

1,858,528 Somerville May 17, 1932 2,053,645 Weaver Sept. 8, 1936 2,410,674" Nelson Nov. 5, 1945 

